Have you ever misread an autistic individual’s behavior? Most of us have. Not because we’re uncaring — but because we’ve been taught to look at behavior first instead of the differences underneath it. And then Susan said a sentence that changed everything for me: “Look for the differences — not how we’re alike.” It’s simple, but it completely shifts how we understand autistic communication, behavior, and connection. We Celebrate Acceptance on Screen… But Struggle With It in

Have you ever tried to teach a skill—getting dressed, cleaning up, leaving the house, or even answering a simple question—and your autistic child or student shuts down, resists, or becomes overwhelmed? Most people assume it’s behavior. But what if it’s really expectation? In this week’s vlog, autistic retired Occupational Therapist Susan Golubock and Speech-Language Pathologist Staci Neustadt talk about something most people never realize: even small, invisible expectations

What if I told you that a “good,” compliant, easy”  autistic child is not a sign of things going well…but a red flag ? I know—that sentence alone stops people in their tracks. But stay with me. I have heard several times in my two decades as an SLP: “They’ve always been such a good kid. So easy. So compliant. But now everything is suddenly a battle.” They describe a child who once went along with everything…who now refuses, melts down, pushes back, or flat-out says “no.” And

Have you ever thought about how your words can change the way someone sees themselves? When Susan Golubock , an autistic retired occupational therapist, said, “If someone had just told me it’s okay to be different, everything could have changed,”  it stopped me in my tracks. Because how many times have we—parents, teachers, or therapists—used words that were never meant to hurt, but did? Words like “obsessed,” “fixated,”  or “perseverates.” We were taught to use them to d